In the iconic building featured in the Bond film Casino Royale, a new space has emerged where the focus is not on appearances, but on real results. In this interview, gym chain founder Michal Vrátný explains candidly what sets the Karlín location apart from anything they have built before—and how training here can help you live longer.
How would you describe Železná koule in one sentence to someone hearing about you for the very first time?
Železná koule is a network of gyms built around functional strength training in groups, where we teach our students how to live better and longer.
What can people expect to experience differently at Železná koule compared with a conventional fitness centre?
We’re not a typical “equipment rental shop”—in other words, an open gym where people simply wander aimlessly from one machine to another. We want to help you achieve the best possible results, and the only way to do that is under the guidance of our experienced coaches. Every workout has a clear, well-thought-out structure, from the initial warm-up to the final exercise. Instead of an anonymous environment, we offer a strong sense of community. Training takes place in small groups, where many of our students have found their best friends—or even their life partners.
Who are the typical people who train with you, and what do they have in common?
An incredibly diverse range of people train with us, from software engineers, doctors, and managers to artists and creative professionals. What unites them is the desire to keep their bodies fit enough to handle everyday life without limitations—whether that means playing with their children, running to catch a tram, or moving house. Once everyone changes into their workout clothes, any social or professional differences instantly disappear. Put simply, we are a community of people who want to remain strong, healthy, and mobile well into their sixties and beyond.
Why do coaches play such an important role at Železná koule? Beyond proper technique, what should a good coach teach people?
We call our clients students because a coach’s role is not merely to give them tasks or offer superficial motivation, but to genuinely teach them something. Coaches put each exercise into context and explain how everything fits together, so that everyone understands why they are doing what they are doing. Beyond flawless technique, they teach students to listen to their bodies and understand that safety always comes before ego. We would rather reduce the weight than risk injury. We want our students to leave us with the knowledge and skills they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives.
What principles can people take from their training at Železná koule and apply to their everyday lives?
The very first thing we teach every student is how to breathe properly. Even if that were the only thing they took away from Železná koule, it would still be worthwhile. We can survive for weeks without food and several days without water, but barely a few minutes without taking a breath. Yet proper breathing has a far greater impact on our health and performance than most people realise. Our students also build physical and mental strength, alleviate back and joint pain, and shed excess weight—all of which comes in quite handy in everyday life.
What will the first visit be like for someone who has no experience with this kind of training and does not know anyone at Železná koule?
I like to compare it to learning to drive: you do not wait until you already know how to drive before taking lessons. Every student starts at a different level, so we tailor the entire training programme accordingly. In the first session, we teach people how to breathe properly, engage their core, and master the basic movements, often with little or no added weight. Each subsequent workout builds on the last and becomes slightly more challenging—perhaps by adding one repetition, increasing the weight, or including another set. This gives the body an appropriate stimulus, allowing it to adapt and grow stronger. The key is finding the right balance: too little resistance will not produce results, while too much can lead to pain, injury, or a loss of motivation to continue.
How does it work in practice? How often do you launch new programmes, what do they involve, and where can prospective students find out more about them?
We offer hour-long, coach-led group sessions throughout the year, usually for 10 to 15 people. Beginners and advanced students train together, but each follows an individual plan tailored to their abilities and any health limitations. Training sessions generally take place twice a week as part of a three-month membership.
Three times a year, we also run our Amazing 12 and Amazing 6 transformation programmes. They are designed both for beginners who want to transform their bodies, habits, and approach to nutrition, and for experienced trainees who have hit a plateau and need a boost. Participants train every weekday in groups of no more than five, while their coach monitors their diet and supports them outside the gym as well.
The next intake begins on 31 August and, for the first time, will also be available at our Karlín gym. Further information and registration are available at: www.amazing12.cz.
What led you to open a new location specifically at Riverside Karlín?
Karlín is a dynamic neighbourhood full of people who want more from life and understand our philosophy. The Riverside Karlín office district was an opportunity we simply could not pass up. We wanted to be as close as possible to both our current and future students, offering them excellent accessibility and first-rate facilities in a place where work, life, and leisure naturally come together.
What lessons from your previous gyms did you apply when creating the new space?
We drew on 15 years of experience across a range of gyms. The conditions were not always ideal, so we had to improvise, test different approaches, and find solutions that worked. Our Smíchov gym was the first space we were able to design entirely from scratch, and during its first year of operation, we identified areas that could be improved even further. We have now applied those insights in Karlín—from the optimal layout of the training zones and acoustic design to the facilities and changing rooms. We know exactly what people need to feel comfortable and focus fully on their training.
What will the new gym offer? How will it differ from your other locations, and what has its size allowed you to introduce for the very first time?
Above all, I would highlight the acoustics, which we really went to great lengths to perfect. Our training sessions rely on instruction from our coaches, so we made sure they could be heard and understood clearly throughout the gym—a type of space typically notorious for echo. Beyond that, as always, we have plenty of weights and equipment, ensuring that every student has everything they need during a workout and never has to wait for a station to become available.
